It’s awfully nice of Comrade Obama to give her a free phone at our expense. However, his motives aren’t entirely selfless. As with green energy boondoggles, his financial supporters are getting repaid for the investments they made in his campaign. A little background:

Since 1985 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has operated a program called Lifeline, originally designed to provide free landline phone service for low-income individuals. The government subsidizes telecommunications firms providing the service, and those firms also pass on costs to customers via the “Universal Service Charge” on their phone bills.

As Obama says, “when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody” — except those who created the wealth. As with so many redistributionist programs, it is exploding under his rule.

The program expanded to include cell phones in 2008. That change has rapidly increased the cost to the federal government — $1.6 billion in 2011, up from $772 million in 2008. The number of Lifeline beneficiaries rose from 7.1 million to 12.5 million during the same period; cell phones account for roughly half of that 12.5 million.

Those getting others to pay for their cell phones are not the primary beneficiaries.

One of the major providers of the free cell phones — 3.8 million subscribers as of late 2011 — is Miami-based TracFone Wireless, a company whose president and CEO, Frederick “F.J.” Pollak, has donated at least $156,500 to Democratic candidates and committees this cycle, including at least $50,000 to the Obama campaign.

Pollak’s wife, Abigail, is a campaign bundler for Obama who has raised more than $632,000 for the president this cycle, and more than $1.5 million since 2007. She has personally contributed more than $200,000 to Democratic candidates and committees since 2008.

The Pollaks hosted Obama at their Miami Beach home in June for a $40,000-per-plate fundraising dinner, and hosted a similar event with Michelle Obama in July 2008. The couple personally donated a combined $66,200 to Obama’s reelection effort that year.

Visitor logs indicate that Frederick and Abigail Pollak have visited the White House seven times.

To make money under socialism, you don’t need good ideas or a work ethic. You need friends in high places.

The free phone program was originally intended to provide land lines for use in emergencies. Now people are using it to get multiple smart phones. That’s how government programs work, just as tumors that eventually grow large enough to kill you begin with a single deranged cell.

TracFone is the US affiliate of America Movil, which is controlled by Carlos Slim of Mexico, the richest man in the world. He’s the crony capitalist who bailed out the New York Times, which makes scams like this possible by spewing socialist propaganda. Unsurprisingly, Slim also shows up in White House visitor logs.

As with so much that goes on under Obama, people might be in jail for this scandal if the media were to give it the attention it deserves. Good thing for the moonbats they own the Gray Lady.

For as many times as I have watched this video, I still cannot fully understand what this person is saying. Perhaps it’s my limited exposure to African-American Vernacular English?

“Oh-bah-mah-foh” – I will buy my ‘phone?

Perhaps not…

Highway Hospital Student

All I can say in response to this woman, is that as a white, 1%er, I am given to ascertain that once Romney is elected to the office of President of the United States, it is an assurance that he will pay my rent, fill up my gas tank and would be most happy to wash my Mercedes.

Spartan24

Today I hear a revolting hip hop song that I swear said “got my Obama phone Obama phone Obama phone.

KHarn

In the old days, this was called “buying votes”. Now it’s called “social justice”.

Ringmaster

It’s just Obama feeding the chickens .. they just don’t realize they are on the menu.

AC

It cost me $10. You mean to tell me these low life individuals can’t swing a 10 spot?

What, and force them to give up five Powerball tickets? Have a heart. /sarc

Ghost of FA Hayek

So tell me, what is the difference between the “free phone” brood sow, the Pollak’s, and Carlos Slim ?
Really, I would like to know.

Peggy Joseph

Hey lady Obama did not buy you that phone – the taxpayer did.

Mary White

“Now people are using it to get multiple smart phones”

Oh really? I would like to know how someone can trade in that 150 minutes-a-month limited ancient motorola tracfone in for a smart phone! Talk about exaggeration!

Next you’ll be claiming they eat better at the soup kitchen than you do at a restaurant. I see Scrooge is alive and well today.

Mary White

“Chuck O says:I broke down and purchased a cell phone for emergencies. Since I rarely talk on the phone, a trac phone made the most sense to me. It cost me $10. You mean to tell me these low life individuals can’t swing a 10 spot?”

Really? You are THAT dumb,huh? Wait a few months, Gomer, when your airtime runs out and your tracfone is useless. Better hope someone comes along with a real phone to save you from your emergency!